Minnesota Teachers To Join Rally In Madison

Protestors shout outside the office of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker as he holds a ceremonial bill signing where he signed a copy of the budget repair bill March 11, 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. The bill essentially eliminates collective bargaining rights for public union workers except on wage issues. Thousands of protestors have gathered at the Capitol for the past three weeks hoping to see the bill killed. (credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dozens of Minnesota teachers are bound for Madison, Wis., for a rally to support unionized workers in Wisconsin.

The state teachers union, Education Minnesota, is sending three buses that hold about 50 people each to the rally.

Union spokesman Lonnie Hartley says the union wants to show support for teachers in Wisconsin and other unionized employees.

Education Minnesota announced the move Thursday, shortly after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker promised to sign a bill stripping nearly all collective bargaining rights from public employees. He did so Friday morning.

Based on the public opinion polls, this fight is not between Democrats and Republicans, it’s pitting individuals against corporations. When the Supreme Court allowed corporations and unions to contribute to political campaigns, it opened the flood gates to corporate influence. The attack on unions is the result of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts being a judicial activist, and overturning precedents.

The Republican party is not about small government, it’s about free enterprise for corporations. They ran up the national debt under the last administration and provided tax breaks for the Wall Street. The Democrats continued raising the national debt and provided tax breaks for corporations like General Motors and Chrysler. This is the result of these bailouts and tax incentives…

1) General Motors and Chrysler took the bailout money and invested in jobs, not in the US, but in other countries. It did not help
2) Banks took the bailout money and paid out huge bonuses to their management.

The vast majority of Americans want good jobs, safe products, health care, responsible government, clean air and water, Regulations that govern energy and banking sector were written by corporations, corporate lobbying is the biggest influence on legislative votes, PAC and campaign finance by corporations are huge compared to individual donations, individual rights in our court system are limited and protect the corporation, and the Supreme Courts made corporate Free Speech rights equivalent to individual rights.

Let’s focus on “We the People” and protect individual rights, not corporate rights.

1) Eliminate the tax credits given to all individuals, unions and corporations for political campaigns.
2) Eliminate tax credits given to all individuals, unions and corporations for political advertisements.
3) Eliminate all Bush tax credits given to all individuals, unions and corporations.
4) Eliminate all health insurance and pensions and establish term limits for all elected officials.
5) Eliminate the current tax system of tax credits and loop holes with a simple fair tax system.

Fire them ALL, even the ones who aren’t protesting. No teacher should make more than $30K per year, and it should be waged based, not salaried. Until now, these secular humanists have filled our children’s ears with atheist lies about the “Big Bang” and “Evolution”. This is a chance to rid ourselves of a real danger to our society. They call themselves “educators” but, at best, they are glorified babysitters.

patridoit tell me how many babiesitter have 30 to 40 children they are babysitting if a babysitter is payed by the child then at 3 dollars an hour per kid then i would say ALL TEACHERS are DRASTICLY UNDER PAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psss, who pays a babysitter per child? I have four children and pay by the hour.
A teacher should be paid by the hour not per child because they don’t teach per child. And what about all the other district employees this impacts or don’t they matter?

They would like? Frankly, I don’t care what they would like. I’d like 1000 shares of Berkshire Hathaway. Maybe I should occupy the Statehouse until I get it?
There is a new sherrif in town and give-away time is over. Get used to it. And a lot less, come 2012.

School Board Member, I don’t think you can fire them for protesting if they do it on their own time! If they take Monday off and call in sick because of their protesting, then I would call them on it and dismiss them! It’s not fair to the parents and the students that they call in sick when they are not sick and if they do, then they are a bunch of “liars” and should be dismissed from their teaching postition, though the union will probably protect them!

School Board Member, you bear some responsibility for this.You and your fellow board members HIRED these traitors. Why were there no background checks? Why were there no loyalty oaths? IF you hire foxes to guard the henhouse, you can’t be surprised when the chickens are killed!

mntp your unbeleivable teachers arn’t traitors,socialist or athiest, the school boards set up and says what is to be taught in the coricculum . to lump everyone into a huge group is pure moronic until you have walked a mile in someone’s shoes DON’T claim you know them or what they think and feel !!

Ferris: Why are you capitalizing the words “teachers” and “kids” in your post? Apparently, your teachers didn’t like you enough to help you with your propensity for improper capitalization. You also have an incomplete sentence in there.

I am thankful I have a job. So I guess I don’t understand the ‘union entitlement’ attitude, You know, the attitude that says ‘I belong to a union, therefore I am entitled to more pay and better benefits than anyone else and if anyone tries to take any of that away I am going to have a temper- tantrum and there is nothing you can do about it.’

Some people just need to wake up and realize that they are not above making sacrifices that the rest of us Average Americans are making.

They WERE making sacrifices. Don’t you hear or read. They were! It was the stripping away of the power to bargain collectively that has inflamed these good honest people. I don’t say not to listen to Fox News but get other viewpoints as well.

Hey Joe. Get a clue! Doesn’t it bother you that it’s the richest of the rich that are the one’s telling the working class to bear the brunt of the defect and make sacrifices, not just at the local level. but the national level as well? Wisconsin state employees are fighting for the rights of all workers. Do you not get that?

If you don’t like your current job then I suggest you fight for yourself too. Get a job with a union, pay the dues, yes, union members pay for their right to fight, and you too can stand side by side with other union members who value themselves enough to fight for their rights of decent benefits and wages. Why should you be “thankful” you have a job? What does that even mean? So do you feel as though your health and vacation benefits are pretty good? Do you feel that your wages are competitive enough for you to pay your bills, fix things if they break, take a vacation once in awhile and save for your future? If not, you really need to value yourself to fight for something better.

so if you were told that we are going to take many of your rights away, and that we are going to increase what you are going to make you pay amounting to 8-10% of you wages and your going to say absolutly nothing ……………….SURE YOUR !!!

pss, I don’t understand the context of your post. Are you asking me or someone else this question? IF you are asking me whether or not I would take more money over my rights, then you are not making sense. Making more money is one of my rights, just as it is with anyone else in this country. Also, benefits = money, they are one and the same but you can’t pay your mortgage with your health insurance or PTO so you get paid in cash for part of your compensation. I had a private sector job where the company couldn’t follow the basic rules laid out by the government and abused it’s employees incessantly. There was a revolving door of employees going in an out and there was only 55 employees in that company at any given time. Many employees went through a lot, some even filing lawsuits. The place was a disgrace and would’ve folded had another company not bought them out. THIS was a place that desperately could have used a telecommunications union. So, no, the pay, which was pretty good, was not worth having my rights in the private sector workplace being disregarded.

The pro-union vote fights for economic expectations that no longer exists in the private sector, and expects the taxpayer to support that way of life. We’re fed up, and the petty sniping at us for our beliefs will only reinforce them. (Paul’s tirade against capitalization, for example; my experience is that many teachers display the worst grammar of anyone at their education level, especially considering they’re supposed to be teaching, not simply communicating). Once their unrealistic pensions and benefits have broken our backs we will not have the time for this debate; reality will require that which most of our political leaders, at least here in MN, lack the guts to accomplish. And if you want to quit teaching in protest, you are free to do it.

I agree! Teachers that want to spend their time protesting instead of teaching, go for it! The kids don’t need that kind of behavior from their teachers!!! Teachers are being hired to TEACH and NOT TO PROTEST!!! If the teachers are doing their protesting when they should be in the classroom TEACHING, then fire them!!

Both my parents were teachers. My sister and a number of cousins are also teachers. I do not know one of them to be anything close to being rich or well off. I helped my teacher mother with a condo down payment after she retired. The people who are slamming teacher’s pay and benefits are the most ignorant people in the developed world. Also, the teachers were giving concessions in Wisconsin but that wasn’t enough for the extremist Governor. He wanted to striip them of bargaining rights. We are blaming the wrong people for the economic and budget problems.

Bargaining rights is a misnomer. We have no right to bargain. To help, misnomer is a big word…look it up. Second, nothing in the constitution and/or bill of rights talks about the right to bargain. The constitution is that thing our country was founded on…look that up too…it will be a good read for you.

Tony, you should reread your history: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence and considered by some as part of one of the most well crafted, influential sentences in the history of the English language. These three aspects are listed among the “unalienable rights” or sovereign rights of man.

How can these public union workers not understand the selfishness of not having to pay into their own tax payer funded pensions? I have to pay my own money into a 401K retirement plan. They are against any union reforms to balance the budget and would rather raise taxes and take some of MY retirement money to fund THEIR pensions. Absurd.

LEE you have NO clue we have been paying into those pension for years they were well funded until the collapes of the financial world. I would look at what the happened to the U.S. during the Bush years thats what is and has caused the problems we are in NOW!!

Bryson – the teachers did not give any concessions that was only a false promise a gambit to try to stop the bill and pretend they were comprimising. Look for yourself at all the union contracts signed after their promise and you will see they don’ include the concessions promised

A word of advise PSS. Get some help for your inner turmoil and anger issues. And then maybe you can goo find a job that better suits your needs and personality. Teaching is not for you and you are not doing “the kids” any favors by being in the classroom.

People like yourself didn’t become a teacher to help the kids or because you love kids so much. You are the liberal progressive offspring of the hippy generation baby boomers that never stopped partying and protesting about every insignificant thought that comes to your drug induced mind. You became a teacher to be a part of the liberal progressive movement to control every aspect of your neighbor’s life and brainwash our children to your drug induced radical beliefs.

It must be painful to be you and have to live with all of that hate and inner anguish. Prepare yourself PSS… Your life is about to abruptly change. You are not special and you are not entitled to the benefits and retirement that you so foolishly thought you would get. There is a movement going on in this country that is so much larger than your pathetic union movement. Your numbers are pale by comparison to those of the conservative Tea Party movement. Your elitist days are over as the pendulum of natures balance swings in the other direction.

lucyfir you were the one student that probably didn’t care if he learned anything because you are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO smart and unteachable …………………………………….maybe just maybe you should have showed up and listened to your teachers

Teachers in Minnesota are certainly well paid for their part time jobs. 182 days of work out of 365 is not a full time job. It would appear that Wisconsin is again leading the way and perhaps Minnesota will follow at some distance. The Minnesota teachers union certainly does not have a history of support for education.

Really? So the hours used outside of class (your normal work day), as well as in the summer for planning and gaining further knowledge does not count? If it did , I would surmise teachers work more (hour for hour) then a 8 hour salary worker in the private sector.

Get a clue. Until you have been in both sectors, you are sorely misinformed.

abcs…a lot of teachers invest money in their lake cabins so they can go to them in the summer time when they don’t teach! Plus most of the teachers have a spouse for income too. I am not saying this is wrong but I wish these teachers that have a spouse’s income to live off of too,, would stop complaining!

Heididog if you have a problem with people saving money to buy recreational property maybe you should invest better insted of crying about it, teachers that have cabins have made good investment so they could afford some nice things!!

They are not “complaining” Heididog. Really, what do you mean by that? That they want to be able to have a say in their work life? What is wrong with that? Do you not value yourself enough to fight for what you are worth?

What do I call what Heididog? Why did you attempt to answer my question with a question? Don’t have any real answers yourself? How do you know what MOST teachers do? Are you a secret agent spy hired by Governor Walker to stalk all teachers?

Methinks teachers doth protest too much… and should reconsider being assocociated with with the liberal extremists and union thugs making the most noise. Go home and be thankful you have a job with benefits, and recognize your paycheck and benefits come from regular hardworking taxpayers, who probably outnumber you 10 or 100 to 1… If you’re so concerned about money and benefits, you should consider a more lucrative profession.

a challenge to anyone to go into any classroom and teach for even one day…remember a teacher educated you…what kind of student were you…obviously not one who cared…no one would be anywhere without a caring teacher..know any doctors, lawyers, professors etc., etc.? Is there any concern for the future? any of you belong to a union, public servant?

Yes – I have a great concern for the future. That’s why I oppose public unions – they stop education reform. They stop merit pay, and they protect bad teachers. Our kids deserve good teachers, and good teachers deserve good pay. Bad teachers deserve the door.

Really Drae? That’s all they do? It sounds like in your small world you have a chip on your shoulder. There are some outstanding teachers out there who deserve protection from frivolous claims by administrators, parents and students. Other than public service employees and other types of union members, who else has to deal with potentially life-threatening behavior and working conditions? Think police, firefighters, correctional officers, road construction workers and all the other jobs that the majority of people simply don’t want to do.

Teacher Power, Interesting incident in Rochester Century High school last school year, I have family attending there. 2009-2010 school year she had a class in the school with twenty three other students, the teacher had a different approach for teaching and NONE of the class could understand nor pass the class tests ect. Students went to the teacher during his prep time and still had trouble understanding the class contents, parents started to get involved because they didn’t get the contents. The parents went to the teacher/administration for possible assistance for the students and nothing could be done. By the end of the semester all students failed the class and they were depressed for a failing grade and their pride was damaged, the whole class, please. Parents went to the Shool Board and Administration demanded answers, parents were told the whole class would be sent to Summer School to repeat the class. School provided free busing and free school lunch and the teacher was a different teacher and all students passed Summer School. The teacher who could teach the class is still teaching at Century and nothing has changed with his teaching style, he is tenured and very much protected, teacher power. Sad story because there are good teachers, this guy needs to find a new career.

I had an American history teacher who had clearly lost his passion for teaching. He had the monotone voice and total lack of energy every day. 8 years later, I find the man was still teaching. I learned more about American history out of school than I ever learned from this man, but the unions think he should stay.

If you think these stories are bad though, look up what the unions did in Seattle with a pedophile teacher!

I applaud MN teachers joining the fight. This fight is not about money, it’s about retaining bargaining rights that have been in place for decades. People who think it’s just about money are misinformed, and probably get all their “news” from Fox Network. That is not real news, it’s a spin on what the conservatives want to believe.

I am praying for all union members who are having to defend their right to be heard once again, and for the recall of Gov. Walker and Repub state senate members who went along with his scam. He just pulled the Republican favorite, bait and switch, practiced so well by Bush in starting the Iraq war, when he knew very well there were no WMDs and that Hussein did not play a role in the attacks. Gov. Walker and other Repubs ran on the promise of creating more jobs, the first thing they do is attack unions and strip workers of rights. Now that they are uncovered for what they truly are, we cannot get rid of them fast enough! I pray the unions do not give up this very important fight until it is reversed. The whole world is with you!!

That’s rather a bizarre comment when you consider the other industrialized countries are much more unionized. Perhaps having a little job security allows them to focus on the job at hand, namely preparing the next generation.

You need to grow up and also to remember recent history. You mention the bait and switch tactics of the Republicans, what about the lock out practices of the Republicans by the Democrats when Obamacare was taking form? What about the most stupid statement ever made in the halls of our Congress, “You will have to pass the bill to find out what is in it”. Does it really get any more stupid than that? Of course with Democrats I have to constantly remind myself that YOU CAN”T FIX STUPID!

Did the Republicans take their ball and go home after being locked out of the Obamacare process like the Democrats in Wisconsin did? No, the Republicans stayed and voted “NO”. Did it do the Democrats in Wisconsin any good to take their ball and run off to Illiinois, NOPE.

At one time in this country unions served a useful purpose, but that time has long faded into the distance. Collective bargaining was a right given to some unions that should not have been given to them.

Things change and taking away collective bargaining rights is one of them.

The state of Minnesota and the Teachers Union will soon be pitted against their neighbors and family when their “entitlement” ends.

Union spokesman Lonnie Hartley says the union wants to show support for teachers in Wisconsin and other unionized employees.

Epic failure to think this non sense of holding our teachers up as some sort of superstars. Just go visit a classroom or parent teacher conference. They are truly clueless, but their Education Minnesota and mouth piece has for years attempted to convince us how bad they have it. I’m not buying it. Take your liberal mentality and go find a job that you have to perform at.
WOW

You obviously haven’t spent time in a classroom! I am amazed at the job my son’s kindergarten teacher has done. I volunteer on a weekly basis and have a completely different experience than what you have written here.

On the other hand you are able to read this and wrote proper sentences so I would have to assume that you learned some of this from a “teacher”!

If your child’s school is so terrible; you always have the option to home school your children and take this responsibility upon yourself to make sure that your child gets a top notch education! You also could send your child to a for “profit” school at the cost of several thousands a year if public education isn’t doing it for your child!

That is the great thing about all of this is we have choices! Most people making ignorant comments here couldn’t last one month doing the job of a teacher. My significant other has a masters degree and takes care of ten special needs children as a special education teacher. Do you want to do her job?

Joel – I DO send my kids to a private school, and they spend less per pupil than the public schools. Yet – my kids out test their public school peers, even with less money.

Gee – you would think if the answer to our education problems was more money, we’d be seeing results by now. Guess what – the problem isn’t the money the schools get, The problem is the UNIONS fight every meaningful reform that PARENTS want.

At what point are parents supposed to stand up to being bullied by the unions? WE WANT REFORMS! Why are the UNIONS fighting them?

I just know what my significant other has to to deal with as a special education teacher and the education and dedication that it takes to do that job! I feel she earns every penny doing what she does! She teaches children that your private school wouldn’t even take as a student because they don’t have the resources to deal with.

I am not for the union at all but if you don’t pay professional teachers a professional wage they will eventually leave for something outside of teaching! Not everyone can afford private school. Losing good teachers to private for profit schools and to the private sector is not what is best for our children. Again this is my opinion! My child goes to public school and I am extremely pleased with the job done at Mounds View public school!

It’s great that you can afford to send your child to a private school! Your comments about going to a classroom or parent teacher conference was interesting! How would you know what goes on in a “public” classroom when you children attend private school! I guess the sense of entitlement is starting early in your family! And here you are commenting on how entitled teachers think they are! Kind of the kettle calling the pot black isn’t it?

Joel – that’s an excellent district. My kids will be in public schools for HS and in that district too. I agree with you it’s a problem when good teachers feel the need to go to private schools – which are not always “for profit” btw, such as the Catholic schools.

No – I don’t want your SO’s job, and I don’t trash teachers – just their union, which you likewise don’t like. I have not personally said one thing about paying teachers less. I’m just for the unions getting kicked to the curb, and merit pay. Special Ed teachers should get paid very well since they have more of a challenge.

It’s interesting to me to see the number of people who are worked up about this debate, but still don’t like the unions. There are likely many people, Joel, like me and you, who don’t like the unions, but they come across as anti-teacher. Please don’t take them personally, because I think it’s more sloppiness on their part. Really – who hates teachers? (Except teenagers? heehee) No – I think it’s safe to say everyone wants good pay for GOOD teachers.

It’s about the right to have a say in working conditions, hours worked, etc. They agreed to all of Gov. Walker’s concessions about money, so that wasn’t why he pushed to take away all of the rights. It is a well known Repub plan to do away with the unions, then privatize medicare and soc. security, do away with healthcare for the poor, etc. It amazes me people don’t know this.

And I’m amazed people like you don’t understand the federal budget. Over 40% goes to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. This comes from the Washington Post and the Office of Management and Budget.

I’m amazed people like you seem to think the American people have $14 trillion lying around in the couch cushions or something. Honey – we’re broke. Wake up.

We are only broke as you say because Repubs have been giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy and to corporations for years. Raising taxes on those would more than close the gap, and take the burden off of the middle class. Don’t buy into their bull that there is nothing that can be done to fix the deficit other than taking more from working people, schools and healthcare, etc. They know if they raise taxes on the wealthy they lose their biggest campaign contributors. That is what got us where we are, HONEY.

LOL @ Zoe. No honey. We are broke because of decades upon decades of spending. You can try to blame the republicans all you want, but the truth is BOTH parties are responsible.

I hope you don’t get a headache trying to figure out how a “wingnut” like me can place blame on both parties. It’s because it’s the truth. Your hyper-partisanship won’t balance the budget, so really. Your benefits are getting cut along with everyone else. And your taxes are going up. Not what I’d like, but that’s how bad it is, Toots.

That is a false statement, The unions did not agree to the concessions, only some talking heads for the unions made that statemenet for the gulible people in the state, these talking heads have no power to enforce any such provision.

It’s about the right to have a say in adverse and sometimes very dangerous working conditions, to protect yourself and to have fair pay for taking jobs that most people don’t want. It’s a big difference to work 60+ hours on any given week and not receive overtime for it for instance. I mean really, open up your thinking or better yet, shadow a teacher or two and make sure it is in the junior high/middle schools so you can get a real taste of stress.

After spending time in my son’s kindergarten class room and in my significant others special education classroom I have come to the conclusion that “teachers” earn every penny that they make! I would support an increase in teachers salaries and investment in our children’s education.

I volunteer in my son’s kindergarten room and I am sad to say not many parents make an effort to do that. Start spending time in the classroom of our schools and maybe you will become educated yourself as to what it takes to educate children these days.

As for the money most people with masters and doctorate degrees wouldn’t take a job paying what teachers get paid. If we can pay someone millions to catch a football or build a sports stadium we should pay our teachers more.

I am not a “union ringer” and have never belonged to a union! As a matter of fact I don’t like unions and the entitlement part of them! I do support professional teachers being paid a professional salary though!

TDM – you should look into how the unions exploit teachers, and how they protect bad and even criminal teachers. Maybe then you wouldn’t think so highly of their union. We would have more money to pay teachers without their unions taking a cut.

Wow, Man. Settle down a little. I don’t think anyone seriously wants to underpay good teachers. People are frustrated that we’re paying for bad teachers – which is understandable. But I don’t think anyone would say a good teacher shouldn’t be paid well.

And, uh, it’s up to your local school board to make sure your local teachers are getting paid well.

Perhaps this will lead the legislature in Mn to decertify and or eliminate the teachers union in Mn. That would be in the best interest of the students and the taxpayers. Every teacher on those buses should be fired.

I was lucky enough to have some great teachers in secondary school and in college who truly inspired and changed me and made me a better person. I feel very sorry for kids now who will be deprived of great role models. Teachers do not make great money, anyone who thinks so should try it first before spouting off about it. And they do pay into their own pension programs and for health care. I know, I was in the nurses union in MN. I don’t know where the idea came from that union members get a free ride. Probably from Fox News and the idiots on there like O’Reilly, Beck, and that bunch of losers. They are so divorced from the truth they wouldn’t know it if it bit them. Which it will someday when they are exposed for the racist, classist pigs they are.

I bet that is Mark from MNIdiots.com on here. Sounds like the garbage he spews. Is that you Marky Mark? Show your true colors, boy!

Mark is a corporate shill, nothing more. He’s not fit to lick clean the union woirkers toilets, since you want to go there to the lowest level. Repubs are famous for idiotic personal attacks as a last resort when they are cornered. Thanks for reinforcing my belief!

Like Repubs still won’t give up trying to prove Obama is not an American after he’s been in office two years, like Michael Steele claimed on national TV that Obama started the Afghan war? You truly have no clue what base liars the Repubs are, HONEY.

I like the way you gloss over whatever the Repubs say or do and pretend it doesn’t matter. Here’s something a bit more timely for you, HONEY. One of your own opened his mouth a bit too wide yesterday and admitted what was done is Wisconsin was not just about the budget:

For weeks, Wisconsin Republicans have been insisting that the anti-union bill they abruptly passed through the state Senate last night has nothing to do with busting unions or politics, but is all about doing what is necessary to balance the state’s budget. But as ThinkProgress reported, Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) admitted yesterday that he sees an electoral payoff, telling Fox News that by breaking the state’s public employee unions, the GOP can make it “much more difficult” for President Obama to win Wisconsin in 2012. On Fox & Friends this morning, his fellow Republican state Sen. Randy Hopper also tipped his hand a bit, saying the White House “must be behind in the pro-union protests because everyone knows this is about 2012.”

I think it is amazing that most people posting here probably make more than the teachers that they are commenting about! For the record most people probably don’t think you are worth what you are getting paid either! Your company, your boss and co-workers would probably describe you as overpaid and an under performer and yet you feel you are worth every penny you make!

Teachers salaries are transparent and public knowledge how about when you are posting start listing your occupation, company you work for and the annual salary that you obviously are way over compensated for!

If these teachers are as valuable and professional as so many people think, then their compensation should be able to stand on it’s own merits in the marketplace. All that has been lost here is the “right” to collectively bargain. Which really means that the teachers union will no longer have the ability to force the taxpayer to give them whatever they want by way of confiscating dues from their members and use them to elect the people they “bargain” with. Actually they will still have that ability but they just can’t threaten to strike if they don’t get their way.

Unions protect the bad teachers and it’s not fair to the teachers who care about their profession and who do a wonderful job! That’s what makes me upset because the good teachers are an asset to their schools and to the state!

EVERY profession has that problem. You are not being realistic, which is making your argument weak. I take it you had some kind of personal problem with a bad teacher. Well, did you ever have a personal problem with anyone else, a police officer, a fire fighter, a correctional officer, a public school administrator, etc.? Why aren’t you complaining about them? There are so many unions out there in this country you couldn’t even know if you were talking to a union member or not most of the time, but since you do know that teachers are in unions, and it is a public union, and you have had a personal problem, then you start saying a ton of things in regard to something you don’t really know that much about. And who is to say that your version of a good teacher is the right version or a version that anyone else would want? You really should be complaining about the administrators, those above the principals. They are the ones making the REAL big bucks.

It’s a fact of life, people not in unions always think union workers are getting a free ride. They are envious of the supposed extras unions are getting. I’ve worked as a nurse in union and non-union hospitals, so I know what I am talking about, unlike 90% of the people on here who just like to hear themselves spout garbage. There was no difference in pay or benefits. NONE. Do you get that?? None. The Repubs like nothing better than to get workers squabbling over things like this (divide and conquer) when we should be standing together against the future they want to bring about. This future is one where the wealthy and big corporations have everything the way they want it, and the vanishing middle class pays for it. Wake up! This is not a fight about money and benefits. It’s about retaining the middle class in America.

They already have it the way they want it, they are the only ones receiving any true tax breaks, though they need it the least. I’m glad you find humor in SOMETHING, it shows you are still almost human. Not quite, but you can work on it, HON.

Tommy, I’m glad you could even find the hotel. You are so brainwashed it clouds your vision.

LOL fortunitly Zoe, I have a driver to get me there now, because in Wisconsin if your not in the union the Koch brothers give you a car and driver and free vacations! All you have to be is a legal resident over the age of 18, and not hold a union card!

Zoe,
The very fact that you were paid the same in both a union and a non-union hospital indicates that the system was working. The non-union hospital was able to make the decision that you were worth what they were paying you based on the value you brought to them. Your wage was established by the marketplace because if you demanded more in compensation than they received by employing you, they would find someone else. The public sector unions do not allow that to happen. They hold the taxpayer hostage with threats of striking without any alternative.

The point was, which you missed, is that union members are not receiving any extras at all. Any nurses strikes were done over forced double shifts. I’d like to see any of you stand on your feet and provide quality patient care for 18 hours straight without complaining about it. The hospitals were saving big money at the expense of the safety of the patients and the health of the nurses by refusing to hire enough staff. Don’t complain unless you know what you are talking about.

For weeks, Wisconsin Republicans have been insisting that the anti-union bill they abruptly passed through the state Senate last night has nothing to do with busting unions or politics, but is all about doing what is necessary to balance the state’s budget. But as ThinkProgress reported, Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) admitted yesterday that he sees an electoral payoff, telling Fox News that by breaking the state’s public employee unions, the GOP can make it “much more difficult” for President Obama to win Wisconsin in 2012. On Fox & Friends this morning, his fellow Republican state Sen. Randy Hopper also tipped his hand a bit, saying the White House “must be behind in the pro-union protests because everyone knows this is about 2012.”

What they have done in wisconsin, should be done in MN. No use for unions anymore, execept the the Union representatives that draw paychecks from their members and spew the fear rhetoric. Unions had there place in the past, but know it is another monoply at the expense of businesses and others that are non-union and do not understand this entitlement program. You are hired and fired on talent or lack of. Unions are entitlements that choke out competition and stifle economies.

Ah ha!! Marky boy raises his head and uses his real title at last!! Actually, you are behind the times, Michael Moore was there last week. Watch some real unbiased news for once, Marky. You may learn something.

Marky, I think your between your tie and your tight ass all circulation has been cut off to your head, lol.

Actually, I did go to public schools in Wayzata, one of the best districts. Then I went on to the U of M for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, then I went to St. Thomas for a Master of Science in psychology, and am now workiing on my doctorate. What kind of ed have you had, Special ed?

I would like your take on this:

For weeks, Wisconsin Republicans have been insisting that the anti-union bill they abruptly passed through the state Senate last night has nothing to do with busting unions or politics, but is all about doing what is necessary to balance the state’s budget. But as ThinkProgress reported, Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) admitted yesterday that he sees an electoral payoff, telling Fox News that by breaking the state’s public employee unions, the GOP can make it “much more difficult” for President Obama to win Wisconsin in 2012. On Fox & Friends this morning, his fellow Republican state Sen. Randy Hopper also tipped his hand a bit, saying the White House “must be behind in the pro-union protests because everyone knows this is about 2012.”

The people voted them in because they said they could provide jobs, out of desperation. Once they were in, they did no such thing. They went on with their own agenda looking to 2012. They destroyed their own chances in 2012, which is so funny I have chuckled for weeks about how stupid they are. They could not be elected dog catcher now.

Who says that the people who are affected by this and the people who are protesting ever voted for Scott Walker? Remember when Pawlenty won his second term? Barely squeaked by and that was with his opponent embroiled in controversy.

I like the way you rabid Repubs have nothing to say when your fellow Repubs are finally exposed for what their real goals are. I manged to best Dr Drae and Marky Mark from MNidiots.com in one fell swoop. They tune out anything that doesn’t jibe with their warped belief system. Typical, so typical…just like Fox News.

Zoe I think you are not telling the truth about having a masters and working on your doctorate in Psychology. The ethics of your profession would not allow you to make the personal attacks that you are making today. And I don’t think a nurse who is motivated by compassion would make those statements either so I ask you what are you hiding that you have to lie about your credentials?

Personal ethics?? That is a good one, Tommy boy. You are so divorced from reality you actually believe that, don’t you? What ethics do you have for all you have written here?? The ethics of any of my professions do not prohibit speaking the truth at all. Jealousy, is that what I detect here, Tommy boy? Car and driver not enough for you in cheeseland?? Grow up.

Zoe “Psychologists must be extremely cautious, prudent and critical with respect to ideas which can easily degenerate into derisory and discriminatory labels, such as normal/abnormal, adapted/maladapted and intelligent/deficient” Does that ring a bell?

Marky, I still am asking for your take on this when a couple of your fellow rabid Repubs let the cat out of the bag on national TV the other day. Nothing to say? Can’t take the reality, huh? DId you loosen your tie and your tight ass yet? Good. Now take some deep breaths… That’s it, now reality is coming into focus for you for the first time. Don’t fight it, go with it. Now read what is below. Slowly, don’t want to overload the ole circuits, Marky:

“For weeks, Wisconsin Republicans have been insisting that the anti-union bill they abruptly passed through the state Senate last night has nothing to do with busting unions or politics, but is all about doing what is necessary to balance the state’s budget. But as ThinkProgress reported, Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) admitted yesterday that he sees an electoral payoff, telling Fox News that by breaking the state’s public employee unions, the GOP can make it “much more difficult” for President Obama to win Wisconsin in 2012. On Fox & Friends this morning, his fellow Republican state Sen. Randy Hopper also tipped his hand a bit, saying the White House “must be behind in the pro-union protests because everyone knows this is about 2012.”

Zuzu, I am not a Republican first of all, Tea Party is my thing. First of all ThinkProgress is a Socialist group like FOX is far right. They both put a spin on things, I think we can agree on that. Second, I like unions to a certin point, I think the expense of them has to be cut back, and they have to start paying a little more for their retirement and healthcare

Who Cares if it is for elections or not, the fact is unions do not work, to cost prohibitive to companies and taxpayers.

Economics 101: If you have a budget issue two choices; raise taxes or cut programs. Or in the case of WI you freeze wage increases that are above inflation, as the rest of us do not get this, and pass more of the expensive on the employees. If you made health insurance shopping for schools more open, not union forced health programs, it would save them a lot of money. If you cut out the unions you will save even more.

In a budget, if you raise taxes, the people that pay no taxes, or very little are still happy, but the middle class(The majority) pick up more of the tax bill. Rheotoric shounds good to tax the rich more, but in reality in our system it just penalizes middle americans more directly and indirectly.

Zuzu, sorry I hit enter before I was done. I think the unions have to start paying more because the private sector already pays 20-40% more than the unions do. I think the unions have an entitlement issue.

ThinkProgress was not the only reporting of this and you know that very well. Stop skirting the issue. Teabaggers are Repubs to the nth power. You also know this very well. Now, comment on the content of the post, putting aside any of your biases. Did these Repubs or did they not, spill the beans here??

Zuzu, Sorry I didn’t see it, now I do. Well you would fail in business. The two biggest expenses in business are labor and taxes. I can tell by your answer you are just full of BS, not working on your Masters, and probably just an angry little person. I can help you with that, just remember this “Would you like to supersize that sir?”

I challenge my middle schoolers the lofty goal of “the four B’s”: be respectful, be honest, be caring, be brave. I also expect that they support their arguments with facts from the text. Anyone, a 10 year old or an ideologue, can spout off opinions based on nothing more than anecdotal experience but truth is muddier, grey, and less obscure than many in this little flame war seem to think. Many of the commentators in this little small corner of the world could stand to learn a thing or two from my 10-14 year olds, and from me. Too bad you didn’t have me as your teacher, you may have been a little more thoughtful, reasonable, respectful, honest, caring, and brave. But be hopeful, the pursuit of knowledge and an education is a life-long journey, not something that magically happens in our youth. Good luck to you all.

Not at my house !!!!! Please lets get the point across before our house in Madison is destroyed. I received a report this last week of the damage because of the protest and the actions are speaking louder than words. The damage estimate is going to be sent to the Wisconsin tax payer, do you you think Michael Moore will donate or Jesse Jackson ??? Unions have a place in America and yes they were great in 50’s 60’s ect go destroy your own house leave the State House alone. Laugh all you can, I worked on that house and take pride in the workmanship and the State of Wisconsin. Take your protest to Minnesota next weekend, enough is enough.

Stan, the socialists gave their best.They fought their “good fight”. Instead of a bill for the damages, I propose a consolation prize: one last cigarette and the option for blindfolds. None of them will want a priest…

And this coming from someone who lives in a state that has one of the best educational systems in the country. If you think it’s broke, then do something about it. Private and home schooled kids have a better ratio of teacher to student. This means that the teacher can spend more time with individual students.

First mark, my name is spelled Kristin. Second, I did answer your so-called questions. Third, I don’t think they are valid questions, they don’t make sense as I do not believe that what you are asking is true, nor do I believe that it is that simplistic. We could do better, but how is it the teacher’s fault? You should look at the problem holistically and you may find the answer yourself instead of me doing all of your homework for you. You learn better that way…

The little tea troll, a lonely sort,
Sought attention as his quest.
Partisan tool and sarcastic fool,
He played them with equal zest.
But in the end, he found no friend
For he was always the unwanted guest.

Teasies must feel secure living with mom, but mom belongs to a union (unbeknownst to the teasy) and now Gov. Walker has cut mom’s wages and the teasy has to start eating cat food.

The Repubs know they have cost themselves votes for a long time in the future and that there is not one idiot with (R) associated with their name smart enough, or, trustworthy enough, to be elected President of the United States. Get over it wingnuts, you did your best.

I went to one of the three locations to sign a petition to recall my WI Repug State Senator today. The person running the location said that they’d had two hundred people an hour come by, and that the other two sites had similar results. What he said next summed it up pretty well:

Must have been a the union voters, or maybe they were bused in from Illinois, ohio, or MN. They might be from the Obama’s home state, some get out the vote, program that we had or was implicated in maybe voter fraud. None the less ,it is sad that people believe they are more entitled to above the grade COLA increases than the rest of us non-union. Maybe I should start my own Union and call it WE THE People do not stand for this.

Esme, The funny thing about what you pulled out of your tiny tiny little brain was signing that petition will do nothing, and here is why. You will not get enough signatures, kinda like the Liberals in the last election not getting enough votes. LMAO

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We will not be fooled again by the old Repub switcheroo. Promise jobs but deliver nothing, and grease the palms of all your corporate buddies at the expense of working people. Shame, shame!

Oh, I’m not going anywhere. MN has always been a bastion of liberalism. That’s probably why I can think clearly. I had great teachers who pointed out to me the lies perpetrated by corporate shills like you, Mark.

Esme, Why do you call me a corporate shill? Is it just based on my opinion? or is it something else that I don’t see? I believe just like you that I have my right to speak my words, so there must be something I am missing

I call you that because most of your gibberish comes straight from Faux news. At least you care about the environment, which is a switch from most conservatives, probably because you live on a much-used lake and can’t ignore the effects.

Sure, The Public teachers for years have been saying that, for years they have asked for more money to solve this problem. I think last year in MN they got another 300 million to solve that problem. What was the outcome of that money. They lowered the bar, and continued to fail in the standings. So why are they asking for more millions this year? To solve that same problem by throwing more money at it. That song and dance is over, the juke box is broken.

Perhaps kids are losing mental capacity due to all of the toxins spewed into the air and water for decades. But wait, that’s just a myth, right Mark? The environment should have no effect on any organism. Tell that to the 6 legged frogs.

Well Esme, I tell you I am a big believer in the environment and the pollution we have made over the years to it. I myself have put in a buffer for the fertilizer that is used around me. I fight the Minnetonka Watershed on the way they are letting all the pollution go down the Minnehaha into the Mississsippi. You will not get an argument from me on that.

Public opinion in Wisconsin over collective bargaining rights continues to turn more strongly against Gov. Scott Walker’s effort to crush public-sector unions there. The new Republican governor’s scheme for a Reaganesque PATCO-destroying example has instead produced a massive “blowback”.

Wisconsinites have come to recognize that Walker’s campaign against public-sector unions is just one part of a larger plan to essentially repeal all 20th century reforms. Walker isn’t just after workers’ rights, but also the environmental protections, quality public education for all, women’s rights, privatization of the highly-esteemed University of Wisconsin-Madison and fair taxation of corporations and the rich, among other things.

It’s common knowledge that Repubs have tried to strip women of rights by outlawing abortion, among other things, defunding Planned Parenthood, attempting to make birth control more difficult to obtain, not covering it in insurance plans (but, interestingly enough, erectile dysfunction meds are covered in most cases), etc. Read any source you like, it’s all there. They also think global warming and damage to the environment from pollution is a myth, and are attempting to dismantle any environmental safeguards they can in favor of corporations. Schools in poor districts already are far behind those in richer districts. If you don’t believe it, go to any inner city school and see for yourself what they have for equipment and supplies compared to a suburban campus. It’s shocking. And they certainly don’t want any public money going to the U at Madison which has a history of being a liberal institution. The list goes on and on.

Esme, Abortion is murder, and as far as your school district BS goes. Students can go to other schools if the want to. Really please pull your head out of your Liberal Socialist a$$ and stop the spin. You are looking more and more like a fool with your spins. You are upset because you liberals lost in WI, big deal move on. Oh sorry you liberals already have that one taken, LMAO at you I thought there for a minute you had a brain, but hey you pulled one over on me

Esme, As far as Planned Murderhood is concerned, it was in the Bill that they could not use that money for abortions, which Dems signed off on. Planned Murderhood got caught committing murder on these babies, so funding is gone. Maybe you should change your screen name to scarecrow, because I wonder what you would do if you had a brain. You know nothing about politics, just shooting your mouth off with nonsense and lies

Having had two abortions and given up one child for adoption I can say from experience adoption was the worst experience of the two by far. Unless you have personal knowledge of something you should keep your mouth shut. There is no “murder” involved in abortion. It’s a personal choice of a woman whether or not to carry it to term. It has nothing to do with you or your ilk. Stay out of what you cannot possibly understand. Stick with what you know, lies and propaganda.

So how nice Esme you admit that you murdered two children, how can you sleep at night? Yes I agree with you on the choice, you can choose to jive life or murder two children, I see you choose to murder. You, well your a murder, live with That!!!

Esme’s right. Mark stick to what you can understand with your tiny little brain. Stay out of things that don’t concern you. No one can understand but a woman who has been through it how hard these choices are.

Pops, I understand more than you think, and last I check it takes a man and a woman to make a child, not just a woman. So get of your high horse of female rights when it comes to making or defending the rights of the unborn.

Poops, wow I missed a key when I was typing, thats all you got? You could not come up with anything else? How hard did you have to work at that one? Come on, give me something better to work with, please. I’m begging here.

Esme, please scroll up, or are you contemplating murdering another child and that keeps your little mind busy. You amaze me, you care about the environment, but don’t care about the children that you murder, how sad

Mark, people like you should find something to do other than trying to stick your noses where it doesn’t belong between women and their doctors, and your religion and your beliefs down the throats of everyone else. Just because you believe the world is flat does not make it so. What happens between a man, a woman, and their doctor is none of your business.

Well, Mark, I visited your website, doesn’t seem to be any content there. Too lazy to write any? Why don’t you just cut and paste anything O’Reilly or Beck says like you usually do. That way you won’t get hurt trying to think for yourself.

Hey Poops,, Thanks for visiting it, I just earned some money. You still have not answered my question about where did I write anything about religion. You just dont get it, and you can’t spin worth a darn. Poor form Poops

Well, now see. That’s the truth there huh. You identify with Hilter then? Well that says it all. You know, Margartet Sanger was the person who really got abortion off and running. She belonged to the Eugenics movement….you know the one that felt that all Blacks belongs in their place. They couldn’t get rid of them so they planted abortuaries within predominantly black and poor neighborhoods. THAT’S how you get rid of “them”. So it doesn’t surprise me that you mention Hitler. Please…please really look into what you believe in here. I mean the reality of it. Really.

So you really don’t think the world would have been better off had Hitler never been born? That was her point. You can’t seem to get anything right. Grow up and stop thinking the world is all butterflies and sunshine.

Oh my Gosh Esme, do you hear yourself. Two abortions and one child for adoption. Either someone needs to sew your legs shut or show you what an abortion really does, I mean not to you, because that seems to be the only perspective you have, but what it does to the CHILD. Yes CHILD as is human person,not mass of flesh, but yes, a unique being, equipped with his or her own unique identity. Here’s the thing. Margaret Sanger, she was part of the Eugenics movement. Do you know what that is? You’ve been sold a bill of goods and you spout it here as though it’s a right, when no one thinks about that child’s rights.

First they reach in with a tool till they feel something and grab it and pull till they feel a little tug/snap, that’s one arm, then they go in and do it again, that another arm, they they do it again only this time they have to tug a little harder…a leg, and another, then they pull the head out but not all the way, because then that would be considered delivery of a human person, which is then illegal to finish the kill, but they pull just enough out to see the base of the skull, at which time they puncture the skull and turn on a suction and begin sucking the brains out. The child’s screams are silent, unheard as it’s literally being torn apart.

Actually. Jenny, that is NOT how it’s done, and as for that silent scream of yours, no can do as there is no nervous system in operation yet to feel anything. Open a science book before you open your mouth. You’re completely brainwashed.

Ah leave it up to ppl like yourself with your position to state these things as fact, when, in fact based on old information they made assumptions about pain, but more recent studies on premature infancts indicate that they may, in fact experience pain, though I will agree that they have not as of yet concluded one way or another… as fact that babies prior to 24 weeks can feel pain. But babies after 24 definitely can, and abortions are still performed on them. But, honestly, even if there is a doubt, wouldn’t it make you hesitate? Furthermore, regardless of whether or not they can feel pain, is it still okay to rip this child into pieces simply because she/he can’t feel it? What have we come to as human beings?

The latest data suggests that the central nervous system of the fetus is not developed sufficiently to “feel” pain during the stages of pregnancy that we primarily perform abortions (up to 16 weeks). There are some studies that suggest that the fetus may be reacting to stimuli after 24 weeks pregnancy, but there is dispute over whether the fetus is actually able to feel pain, as we know it (TIME magazine). Read a science book. Not the stuff you obviously consider science, but real unbiased science. Could be a real eye opener for you.

So your speaking on your theory? I just want to make sure I understand what you just typed. You are using TIME magazine to back up what you wrote? You are using TIME magazine as a biology book? That backs what you typed? My God woman did you go to a public school?

Well, if you wanna know.. when I had mine, it was no bigger than a kidney bean and didn’t look remotely human. They use mild suction, takes less than two minutes. I guess you two would like to see a return to the days of back alley abortions and thousands of women dying of sepsis and blood loss. Oh, yeah, no need to worry about the rights of the woman, it’s all about the fetal rights in your world.

Great Lola, you must sleep great at night knowing you murdered a child. A child that might be out playing in the snow today with his or her friends. To bad that child never got that chance because you made the choice to murder it

Must be pretty proud of yourself for doing that lolo, must make you want to tell the world how great you feel knowing you used your right to kill a child that never stood a chance because you took that away.

Well, view that video and you’ll see your rights at work. My guess is it’s one thing to have a right and a viewpoint, it’s another to see the reality of it. Furthermore, there are enough resources out there to help would be mothers with their delicate family situations and everything else, that the days of the back ally are just excuses for and “easy” our for a night of “fun”.

So back to the Unions, the teachers still have not answered my question on why are American students are failing when up against the rest of the world, and every year they want more money. Or how private and home schooled kids do better than public students

Hey Mark, I will tell U why American students are failing! Its not because the teachers are not doing their jobs, its because the parents fail to help their children!! Thats why! We need to stop blaming the teachers for are childrens education and put the blame on the parents…everything starts at home not in the class rooms!!

I’ll answer that question, , The Public teachers for years have been saying that, for years they have asked for more money to solve this problem. I think last year in MN they got another 300 million to solve that problem. What was the outcome of that money. They lowered the bar, and continued to fail in the standings. So why are they asking for more millions this year? To solve that same problem by throwing more money at it. That song and dance is over, the juke box is broken.

I am amazed at how many post are on here from you! If you took all that time wasted and spent it with your family they probably would greatly appreciate it! Or maybe not! If you would donate that same time to help out in a class room just think of the benefit that would provide! Instead you sit on here trying to battle wits with people and it is an unfair fight because you come unarmed!

Really is this the best use of your time on a Sat? I think if that is what my life has come to I might have to take matters into my own hands!

Drae…I’ll babysit! $5 per hour X 8 hours =$40.00 a day for one child X 30 children =$1200 per day X 20 days = $24,000 per month X 9 months =#216,000 per scool year….wanna pay for a babysitter since many teachers are referred to as “babysitters.” You must have had poor babysitters since you are unable to do the simple math..go bavk to school, learn math and then stay there and teach..there’s big bucks there…starting salary…$26,000.

It’s interesting to read the comments from the many teachers posting here. Wow.. I never knew teachers were so unstable and fight so many demons in their minds. It must really be painful to live with such insecurity and still try to position yourself as a member of the “elite privlaged class”. You seem to hate the work you do but still can’t bring yourself to leave your job to find something else that better suits you. I suspect this is because you believed you would get your lucrative retirement in your 50’s and be treated to a free pass for your remaining 25-35 years. You believed your pension managers when they promised 7-8% annual returns… LOL.

The only “rights” you have as an employee is to receive a competitive paycheck for the services you have preformed. You have the right to leave your job at any time and seek another job, just as an employer has the right to dismiss you if he doesn’t need or want your services any longer. Your health and retirement needs are your problem to plan for, not your employer’s. Live concervatively and save for your retirement and if your plan falls short you can work longer. Pay for your medical needs yourself, out of pocket the way we use to do it just 60 years ago. Medical insurance is a scam. You can negotiate substantial discounts (40-55%) yourself and go to any doctor you wish by paying cash or arranging a payment schedule for big expenses. The $12,000+ per year insurance premiums that many families pay goes a long way to funding a medical savings acct.

Do yourself a favor teachers. Find a new job and change the way you think of yourself. You are not entitled to a lifestyle or retirement that is any better than those that pay for your services. Start taking some responsibility for yourself.